Improvement in folding-machines



v 8Sheets-Sheet 3. 8.13. TUCKER. FOLDING-MACHINE.

' No. 192,034. Patented J'une12,18.77.

I VWTNEssEs INVENYTOHV Y 'EPHE'Nfl 750x21? BYWKQ NPETERS, FNOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D C

- v 8Shets-Sheet5.

TUCKER.

FOLDING-MACHINE.

Patented June 12,1877.

I [Q v I 'N.FE|ERS, PHDTO LITHOGRAPNEIL WASHINGTON DP.-

, UNITED STATES PATENT OrFIo-n.

STEPHEN D. TUCKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. l92,03-l, dated June 12, 1877 application filed December 2, 1876.

CASE. A.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, STEPHEN D. TUCKER, of the city, county, and State of New York,

, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Folding-lilachines, of which the following is a specification:

In theaceompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2, an end elevation; Fig. 3, an elevation of one side of the apparatus; Fig. 4, a similar view of the opposite side; Fig. 5, a longitudinal sectional elevation; Figs. 6, 7, and 8, sectional views of detached parts, showing the mode of cutting the web and folding and guiding the sheet; Figs. 9,

t 10, and 11, views showing details of the cylinder 50; Fig. 12, a modification of the cut ting and folding cylinders; and Fig. 13, a modification of the mode of operating the nip pingsprings 13.

This invention consists of a cutting, folding, and delivering apparatus adapted to be attached to printing machines of that class iuwhich a continuous web of paper isprintcd.

By means of this improved mechanism a printed web is severed into sheets, said sheets folded and'dispersed in two or more paths of travel, whereby they, are delivered outot' the machine, -or are directed to supplemental folders, and, when a second or more times folded,

are assembled, so as to be folded or otherwise delivered together out of the machine.

Modifications and details of construction and arrangements of parts form important features of the invention; but they are too fully hereinafter described to need preliminary description.

"them to a second folding apparatus or deliver them from the machine.

The cylinder 50 is constructed, as is shown in Figs. 9 and 10, of rings or short cylinders 10-1, keyed upon the shaft 26, so as to provide spaces. between them, in which spaces the guiding-fingers 10 and switches 2 move, and into which the conductors 1 extend.

The cutting mechanism consists of a blade, 20, (which may have a serrated ed ge,) set in the periphery of the cylinder 60, so as to protrude a short distance therefrom, being preferably held in a removable box, 92, and provided with cushions 9, of rubber or similar elastic material, set upon each side ofit, which cushions press the web against the periphery of cylinder 50 during the operation of severing it, and thus insure a perfect cut, the rearmost cushion clamping the leading end of the severed web, as in Fig. 8, and thus carrying it onward through the cylinders.

The cooperating cutting mechanism consists of a simple longitudinal slot, 23, in the periphery of the cylinder 50; but the cuttingdevices may be of any other well-known form, those illustrated being selected as of advantageous construction.

The folding mechanism consists of a simple blade, 25, set in the periphery of the cylinder 60 so to protrude a short distance therefrom.

The cooperating folding mechanism consists of a jaw, 14, formed by one side of a longitudinal recess, 24, cut at an angle in the cylinder 50, which jaw is provided with a serles of nipping-springs, 13, fixed upon its iuuer face. These nipping-springs have. their. outer ends bent at an angle, so as to project beyond theperiphery of thc'cyliuder. In the operation of folding, the blade 25 will push ;aside these. springs. 13 and insert the fold of 1 paper betwee|i".;tliem and the jaw 14, as in Fig. 6, and when the folding-blade iswithdrawn by the rotation of the cylinders the springs will close uponthe' jaw 14 and press the doubled edge of paper between them and said jaw, the recess 8 in the cylinder 60 providing a clearage for the free ends of the springs to permit this movement. The sheet thus held by its doubled edge will be carried onward with the cylinder 50 in its circular course. Other folding mechanisms may be substituted for those herein shown, as the precise construction shown is not essential.

The respective members of the cutting device may be carried by the cylinders and 60, as is illustrated, or the cylinder 50 may support the male cutting, and the cylinder the female cutting, device. But if a stationary cutting-blade be used in the cylinder 50, then the delivering-cylinders 8O 90 must be placed sufficiently far from it to permit the projecting blade to pass without touching them, and recesses must be cut through the blade to correspond with the spaces between the sections of the cylinder 50, into which the guidingfingers 10, switches 2, and conductors 1 enter. The sheets will not then be entirely severed from the web at the points opposite these spaces; but the guiding-fingers 10, by their action,which will be hereinafterfullyexplained, will strike the sheets at these points and tear them apart from the web, and also prevent the leading end of the web from following around the cylinder 50.

The (leli\-'ering-cylinders 80 90 journaled in the side frames are actuated by toothed wheels 43 and 44, meshing into the toothed wheel and they co-operate with the folding mechanism, as will fully hereinafter appear. These delivering cylinders are, respectively, provided with tapes 31 and 58, which lead from them to pulleys, such as 18, beyond gages or stops 17, and each have arranged, in proper relation to them, tape-rollers 27 29 and 41 42, suitably journaled in the frame-work, and provided with tapes 30 and 96, which lead from them beyond gage-bars 17 to and around pnlleys 19. These tape-rollers are actuated by pinions 45, 46, 47, and 48, meshing with the toothed wheels 43 and 44. These rollers and tapes carry the once-folded sheets over the second folding-rollers, as will be presently explained.

The delivering-cylinder has mounted, parallel with it, a shaft, 3, supporting a rotary cutter, 15, which cutter may have either a serrated or a smooth edge,'working in a suitable groove in said delivering-cylinder, or be provided with a ground edge, working in shearing contact with a similar cutter fixed upon the delivering-cylinder.

f This arrangement of cutter might be used with the cylinder but, as it is preferable to divide the sheet just beforeit is delivered to the folding-rollers, mechanism for that purpose is provided, as is shown in Fig. 8, where it is arranged inproper relation to the rollers and 106.

The guiding-fingers 10, Fig. 5, which control the leading end of the sheet and web, are hung on a shaft, 54, rocked by means of a curved arm, 4, (see Fig. 3,) which is engaged by a stud, 22, protruding from the end of the cylinder 50. These guiding-fingers are thus depressed at each revolution of the cylinder to throw the leading end of the sheet and web on from said cylinder, and at the same time, in case a stationary cutting-blade is used in the cylinder 50, will tear asunder the sheet fr'om'the'web at the points left uncut, as prethen quickly retracted within the cylinder by a spring-seated rod, 49, pivoted to a rockarm, 53, fast on the shaft 54. The switches 2, which control the movements of the oncefolded sheet, are hung on a shaft, 16, which is rocked by means of a rock-arm, 5, and connecting-rod 6, whose lower end carries a bowl bearing upon a cam, 91, on the cross-shaft 55, being moved in the opposite direction by a spring-seated rod, 56. Curved conductors 21 are fixed on a rod, 11, in a position to guide sheets carried past the switches 2 onward to the delivering cylinder 90, and similar curved conductors 1 are placed so as to direct said sheets around said delivering-cylinder 90, as will be explained.

The folding-rollers 32 32 and 33 33 are geared together, so as to revolve in unison, and are driven from the delivering-rollers 38 38 (geared together in like manner) by two trains of gear-wheels, 66, actuated by a like train, 67, meshing with a toothed wheel, 68, which is fast on a shaft, 69, rotated by mitergears 94 95, connecting it with the shaft of cylinder 60. A series of endless tapes, 36, connect one of the folding-rollers 32 with one of the delivering-rollers 38, and one of the foldin g-rollers 33 is, in like manner, connected with one ofthe delivering-rollers 38 by similar endless tapes 37. Similar endless tapes 64 and 65 extend from one of the folding-rollers 32 and 33, and run over pulleys 7 7, being thereby stretched nearly parallel with the tapes 36 37, and, in connection with them, serving to carry the sheets from the rollers 32 32 and 33 '33 to and between the rollers 38 38. As the pulleys 7 supporting these converging tapes cannot extend them fully between the rollers 38 38, it is found expedient to provide guides 73, (see Fig. 5,) which are bars or plates bent into angular form, and hung on a rod, 57, so as to reach down between said rollers and form guideways for the sheets.

The shaft 69 also imparts motion to the parallel shaft 55 by means of toothed wheels 61 and 62.

The folding-blades 34 35 are mounted on These connecting-rods 78 and 81 slots in the sleeve-section 84, and through an i elongated slot in the rod-section, and are held extended to their maximum length by means of springs 83, which bear against the sleevesection 84, and upon collars 85, which are socured on the rod-sections. viously described. The guiding-fingers are 5 The power necessary to produce the required which will yield, and prevent the said obstruction from causing injury to the folding blades. In folding different thicknesses of. paper the blades may be set to properly enter the folding-rollers by means of collars and set-screws, which provide for their adjustment upon the 'shafts 74 75. Their range of ,motion in the direction of the rollers may also bedetermined' by stops, in the present case illustrated as arms 88 89, adjustable on the shafts 74 75, and abutting againstthe side frames.

When thin paper is to. be folded the foldingblades are adjusted to enter fully into the nip of the folding-rollers, and yet sees not to be seized by them. This adjustment may be determined by the stop-arms 88 89, and, by rea son of the provision of the yielding folder-actuating rods 78 81, can benicely made without danger to the perfect operation of the machine, since the said rods will. yield when the stop-arms 88 89, a pasted seam, buckled sheet, or other obstruction opposes its perfect operation. These folding-blades are timed and actuated, and their operation is such that they will descend upon the sheet, and, by their friction, partially'arrest its motion, and also bend or curve it before the tapes have carried it against the gage 17t0 register it over the foldingrollers in position for its sec-- ond fold. By thus slightly curving the sheet it is given a form which possesses great longitudinal strength. Thus partially arrested and curved, the sheet will still be carried-onward to the gage 17, which it will strike without being buckledor otherwise injured by the force ofthe blow. The sheet thus manipulated will reach its position for receiving a second fold just before the folding blade has descended far enough to force it into the nip of the folding-rollers.

The fly-frame 39, ,whichswings from a point under the delivering-rollers 38 38 down onto the delivering-table 40, is fixedupon ashaft,

28, rocked by a rock-arm, 97, and a rod, 98, extending therefrom, yoked over the shaft 55, and carrying a stud, 99, upon which bears a cam, 73, faston shaft55. The return move ment of the fly is accomplished by aspringseated rod, 102. v Iv The operation is as follows: The web of paper52,,either froma roll, 87,

or from the impression-cylinder of a-printingf mechanism, is led over a gu i de-roll ,'101,

through the folding and cutting cylinders 50.

and 60, between which it is nipped and carried forward until its end dependsfrom the cylinder 60, as in Fig. 6, it being guided into. this position by the deflectors 12, Fig. 5, which are curved arms, fixed upon a rod extending from the side frames of the machine.

As the cylinders 50 6Q revolve the folding devices are brought into co-operation, as in Fig. 6, to fold the web, the folding-blade fixed to the cylinder 60 forcing the web of paper which overlies it into the nip of the nipping-springs 13. As the cylinders continue their rotation the folding-blade 25 will be withdrawn, thus allowing the springs 13 to close down ontothe jaw 14 and clamp the double.

edge of the web thereon, the recess 8 in cylinder 60 permitting full play to the curved ends of the springs 13 in this closing moveinent. Thus held, the double webwill travel onward with the'cyliuder 50 until the curved ends of the springs 13, hearing against the periphery of the delivering-eylimlcr 80, force the springs open and release the sheet from their hold. When thus released the sheet will beguidedso as to follow the periphery of the delivexing-cylinder 80 by the switches 2 when they stand in the position shown in Fig. 7. The

sheet is thus guided betweenthe tapes and 31,, which run over the pulleys 27 and 29 and cylinder 80, and is carried thereby out over the folding-rollers 32 32 and 33 33 until it abuts against the gage or stop17, where it rests in a position to receive its second fold, which is accomplished by means of a vibrating folding-blade, as 35 When the cylinders have completed a revolution the cutting devices will have been brought into operative contact, as iuFig. 8,.to

sever the partiallydbldcd end from the web, thus forming a sheet. When the web is severed its leading end will be carried forward and thrown off from the cylinder 50 by the guiding-fingers 10, so asto. droop down in front of the cylinder 60, and it will be folded and severed, as has been setforth. These automatically-1noved guiding-fingers are then drawn within thecylinder 50, so as not to obstruct the proper action of the folding devices.

, 1n the present apparatus the once-folded sheet 51 is divided centrally as it passes over the top of the delivering-cylinder 80 by a circular cutter, 15, on shaft 3, which, extending into a groove in the said cylinder 80, is rotated by the contactof the passing sheet. A positive movement might, however, be imparted to this cutter by a toothed wheclconnecting its shaft with the toothed wheel 45. The two once folded sheets thus formed are. carried out over the folding-rollers 32 32 33 33 and against the gage 17 as before described. These two,

once-folded sheets .are simultaneously doubled into the nip of the second iolding-rollers-32 3 2 and 3333 by means of the vibrating folding-blades 34 and The two independent once-folded sheets are thereby a second time folded, and are assembled together at the delivering-rollers 38 38 (see Fig. 2).by means of the tapes 36 64 and 37 65 and the guides 73... Thesaid tapes and folding and delivering rollors are run with uniform surface speed by means of the gearing hereinbefore described, and the said folding-blades are simultaneously operated, thereby folding the two sheets at the same moment, carrying them onward with perfect uniformity of travel, and bringing their leading edges evenly together at the rollers 38 38, whence they are delivered before the vibrating fly-frame 39,0r, if desired, by tapes before a third folding apparatus, by which the two may be a third time folded. It is evident that instead of being assembled after the second fold they may receive a third fold, and then be assembled and flown, as just described. If delivered before the fly-frame 39, they will be piled upon a table, in this instance made up of parallel bars 40, along which the sheets, as they accumulate, are forced to slide by the vibrating action of the fly-frame.

The speed of delivery is necessarily limited by the length of time required in operating vibrating folders in excess of that occupied by the rotating folder, from which fact it follows that the highest speed at which the rotating folder will operate cannot be utilized when one set of vibrating folders are used to give the sheet its subsequent fold. Hence, in order to attain the highest speed at which the rotating mechanism will fold sheets cut from a web, I have provided a second deliveringcylinder, 90, furnished with conductors and tapes, leading to a second set of folding-rollers and folding-blades, by which alternate sheets once folded by the rotating cylinders are conveyed to and folded between the rollers 100. (See Fig. 8.)

The operation of the mechanism will then be as follows:

When a folded sheet has been directed to the folding-rollers 32 32 33 33 by the switches 2, as has been described, the said switches will be moved, by the action of the cam 91, into the position shown in Fig. 8, so as to direct the succeeding folded sheet onward to the cylinder 90, which movement will be aided by the conductor-s21; and, as the contact of the ends of the nipping-springs 13 with the cylinder would open them and release the sheet, the delivering-cylinders 80 are made twothirds of the diameter of the folding-cylinder, so that they will make three revolutions to two revolutions of the folding-cylinder, and thatportion-"of the periphery of the cylinder 80 presented to the action of the springs at the second revolution of the cylinder 50 is cut away, as is represented by dotted lines at 107 in Figs. 7 and 8. This construction enables the said springs to pass the cylinder 80 without being affected thereby; but said springs will be opened as they bear against the periphery of cylinder 90, when the second sheet will be released from the nipping-springs, as was the first, and the conductors 1 will guide it around the cylinder 90 and between the tapes 96 5S,which will carry it out over the second folding-roller 100, through which it will be folded by the vibrating folder 108.

As the said sheet passes between the rollers this modification of my apparatus.

and 106, and in contact with the cutter 15, it will be divided into two once-folded sheets, as before described with reference to the first sheet. Two sets of folding-rollers 100, foldingblades 108, collecting and delivering mechanisms, whose construction and arrangement are like that illustratedin Fig. 2, will be arranged to fold, assemble, and deliver the said sheets in a manner similar to that described with reference to the sheets folded through rollers 32 32 33 33. t

The several tape-rollers may, of course, be

pulleys or spools, and the folding-rollers may be continuous, or be made up of pulleys set on a common shaft, and the switches 2 may v1- brate in grooves cut in the rollers and cylinders, or between the pulleys, when that is their construction.

This system of divertingonce-folded sheets alternately into distinct paths of travel, by which they are conveyed to separate'folding devices, is made the subject-matter of another application, and is, therefore, not herein claimed broadly; but it is to be observed that the duplex delivering mechanism herein described may operate with folding-cylinders such as 50 and 60 when their cutting mechanism is removed and the web is severed by independent cutters. I

In Fig.12 the cylinders 50 60 are represented of circumferential dimensions equal to the length of two sheets, and they are furthermore provided with double sets of both folding and cutting devices. The cuttingblades 109 123 and folding-blades 110'118 move in radial slots, and are projected from or withdrawn into the cylinders by means of their shafts 112, which are elongated to extend into' grooves 111 in stationary cam-plates fixed to the frame of the machines The delivering-cylinders 80 90 are also differently arranged, all of which will be well understood by a description of the operation of The web 52, led through the cylinders, has its leading end kept from following either cylinder by rotating brushes 198, which carry it between them. The folding-blade 110 doubles the web into the nip of the springs 113, which carry it onward until the delivering-cylinder 80-opens the springs and releases the sheet, which is directed, by the conductors 114, out between the tapes 115 116, whence it may be delivered to a second folding apparatus, or out of the machine. As the cutters 109 117 come into operative contact they sever the web, and its new leading end is carried out between thebrushes 198, as before explained.

When the second set of folders 118 119 come into operative position, the web will be nipped by the springs 119 and carried downward until the springs engage the delivering-cylinder 90, when they will-be opened and the sheet directed by the conductors 120 to the tapes 121 122, by which it will be carried out to a 1 second folding apparatus, or be otherwise delivered. When a sheets length has passed through the cylinders the second set of cuttingdevices 123124 will come into operation and sever the web, as before described. These cylinders thus successively cut and fold the web into sheets, which sheets are alternately delivered to the two sets'of tapes. The cut" ting and folding of the Web take place at the point of contact of the two cylinders, the camgroove 111 being so shaped at this point as to suddenly project the cutting or folding blades. This system might be carried still further by supplying two delivering-cylinders to each of the cylinders 50 60, as has been already described with reference to the cyli-nder50, and guiding-fingers may be applied to these cylinders to prevent the leading end of the web from following them. 7 .To avoidthe danger of tearing the sheet of paper by the folding-blade 25 thrusting it into the recess of the upper cylinder 50 against the pressure of the spring 13, this spring may be elevated automatically both to receive and release the folded sheet, as shown in Fig. 13.

In this modification the springs 13 will not project beyond the periphery of the cylinder 50, but are lifted by fingers 200 mounted on a rock-shaft, 202, carried by lugs from the inner face of the cylinder 501 This shaft at its extremity has a lever carrying a friction-roller, 201, and a fixedprojection or pin on the frame of the machine is so;situated that by the'rota tion of the cylinder 50the friction-roller 201, in passing under it, will raise the springs to receive the foldedpaper. To release the same at one or more points alternately or in seccession, camshaped projections may be thrown What is claimed, therefore, as my invention 1. A pair of cylinders provided with cutting mechanisms and with a folding blade andcooperating nipping devices, in combination with a delivering -cylinder, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with a pair of cylinders provided with sheet-folding devices, of two delivering-cylinders and a device for directing the sheets alternately to said deliveringcylinders, all substantially as described.

3. In combination with mechanism imparting to a sheet its first fold, a cutter for dividing it into two sheets, mechanism for subsequently folding said sheets. and devices for collecting said sheets together and delivering the same, all substantially as described.

4. The combination of the guiding-fingers with the cutter and vits carrier, whereby the parts of the web are torn asunder on the par- "tiallysevered line, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a folding-blade and an actuating device vibrating said blade positively in both directions, of an interposed yielding mechanism, which is provided with means for adjusting its resistance so that the saidyielding mechanism shall operate when the ordinary movements of the folding-blade are obstructed, all substantially as described.

6. The combination of folding-cylinder 50, delivering-cylinders 80 90, and switches 2, substantiallyas described.

7. The combination, with the foldingblades, of rods provided with adjustable elastic portions, connecting the said blades together, or either of them, with the actuating mechanism, all substantially as described.

8. The combination with the'pai rs of foldingrollers 32 33, of the delivering-rollers 38 and connecting tapes, substantially as described.

9. The combination of a rotating carrier supporting a single sheet-folding device with means for delivering the sheets it carries into cooperating folding devices alternately at two or more points, all substantially as described.

10. The combination, with a rotating carrier supporting a sheet-folding device, of the cooperating sheetreceiving cylinders, one. of which cylinders is provided with a recess, as 107, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN DQTUOKER.

Witnesses:

11.1. MUNSON, GHAs. W. CARPENTER. 

